Curriculum Materials and Lesson Plans

A Ranger and group of students explore a gray pine ecosystem along West Beach's Dune Succession Trail.

NPS Photo / Joseph Gruzalski

Below are lists of available education programs through Indiana Dunes National Park.

Please visit our Plan a Field Trip page to schedule a program with your students.

For a printed paper copy of a program listed below, please email us your mailing address with the name of requested program or call our Education Programs Ranger/Specialist, Christine Gerlach, at 219-395-1885.

You can also send your program request to:

Attn: Christine Gerlach
Indiana Dunes National Park
1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Indiana State Education Standards Included

Program	Grade	Season that Program is Available
A Grain of Truth	4th - 6th	Spring, Summer, Fall
The Chellbergs had a Farm	Preschool - 3rd	Year-Round
Discover	Preschool - 3rd	Year-Round
Fall Fanfare	1st - 6th	October - November
Habitat Hike	4th - 12th	Year-Round
Lake Michigan Alive	4th - 12th	Year-Round
Mount Baldy Moves & West Beach Walk	Preschool - 3rd	Spring, Summer, Fall
Maple Sugar Time	All Grades	First two-weeks of March
Pinhook Bog	6th - 12th	Mid April - Mid November
Potawatomi and Fur Traders		Year-Round
Reflections on Snow	5th - 12th	January - February 15
Secrets of Succession	6th - 12th	Spring, Summer, Fall
Talk With the Animals	Preschool - 1st	Year-Round
Water World		Unavailable at this Time
Winter Exploration		January - February 15

Illinois State Education Standards Included

Program	Grade	Season that Program is Available
A Grain of Truth	4th - 6th	Spring, Summer, Fall
The Chellbergs had a Farm	Preschool - 3rd	Year-Round
Discover	Preschool - 3rd	Year-Round
Fall Fanfare	1st - 6th	October - November
Habitat Hike	4th - 12th	Year-Round
Lake Michigan Alive	4th - 12th	Year-Round
Mount Baldy Moves & West Beach Walk	Preschool - 3rd	Spring, Summer, Fall
Maple Sugar Time	All Grades	First two-weeks of March
Pinhook Bog	6th - 12th	Mid April - Mid November
Potawatomi and Fur Traders		Year-Round
Reflections on Snow	5th - 12th	January - February 15
Secrets of Succession	6th - 12th	Spring, Summer, Fall
Talk With the Animals	Preschool - 1st	Year-Round
Water World		Unavailable at this Time
Winter Explorations		January - February 15

Program Descriptions

A Grain of Truth- Hike one mile along beach and foredune trails to learn about processes of glaciation,erosion and dune building.
The Chellbergs had a Farm- Visit a 1900 farm and participate in activities of work and play.
Discover- A sensory program immersing students in an atmosphere that promotes protection of nature and the park.
Fall Fanfare- Learn of fall activities and adaptations that plants and animals use to prepare for winter.
Habitat Hike- Discover and explore the many habitats of the Indiana Dunes.
Lake Michigan Alive- Learn the history and significance of Lake Michigan and how it impacts our lives.
Mt. Baldy Moves & West Beach Walks- Learn how wind, water,waves and plants work together to form dunes. Discover ways humans can alter or save the dunes.
Maple Sugar Time- Discover how maple sugar affected peoples' lives. Learn about technological advances in maple sugar production.
Pinhook Bog- Learn about this special geological feature of the region while walking on a board walk floating on sphagnum moss and seeing the diverse plant life of the bog including insect eating plants and tamarack trees.
Potawatomi and Fur Traders- Learn about the lifestyles of the Native Americans as they lived with the land and the traders as they came to the region.
Reflections on Snow- Explore animal tracking , predator/ prey relationships and winter habitats while hiking or cross country skiing in Miller Woods.
Secrets of Succession- Students will discover the forces that shape the dunes and produce the unique succession of plants.
Talk With the Animals- In this puppet show students will see how animals and plants of the outdoors work as neighbors to help one another.
Water World- Students will investigate the rich diversity of an interdunal pond and examine the pond's surrounding ecosystem of plants and animals.
Winter Explorations- Students will understand how plants and animals adapt to survive the winter through discussion and hike.